Report on the Exhibition of Live- Stock at Derby. 587 
Oxfordshire Downs from seven, and the Southdowns from twelve 
flocks. A very few years ago it was argued, and with some 
plausibility, that the Shropshires exhibited at the Royal Shows 
were not of uniform type, and that the typical Shropshire had 
not yet been defined. Those who looked at the splendid dis- 
play of these sheep at Derby, with the most hypercritical eyes, 
must have failed to detect any diversities in leading points and 
features, or at least no more than could be found in an equally 
large assemblage of any other breed. The Royal Agricultural 
Society may take credit for this perfection of uniformity, having, 
with the able assistance of their Judges, defined certain 
" points " which a true Shropshire should possess. 
The judging of the Shearling Shropshire Down Rams was 
the sight of the day. Thirty-eight were selected by the Judges 
after the most careful examination, and the exhaustive process 
upon them was long and anxious. Mr. Minton, who first 
began to show at Birmingham in 1876, obtained the great dis- 
tinction of the red ribbon with No. 842, a good animal, want- 
ing, as some said, in touch and levelness, but of rare quality. 
Mr. Naper's sheep. No. 823, was put second, and would 
probably have gone higher if he had more wool on the 
top of his head, on the place where the wool ought to grow. 
Mr. Graham's third-prize and Mr. Minton's fourth-prize animals 
are good rams, as indeed are the eleven others that were dis- 
tinguished by the Judges. There were twenty-five Old 
Rams, from which Mr. T. J. Mansell's " Dudmaston Hero," 
let at his recent sale for 200 guineas to Mr. Loder, M.P., 
and in 1880 for 160 guineas, was selected for the first prize, 
and Mr. Minton's " Royal Reserve " for the second. Mr. 
Farmer and Mr. Crane took the third and fourth honours, 
and twelve other rams were commended. Mr. Beach's pen of 
five ewes was first, Mr. Graham's second, and Mr. German's 
third ; while Mr. Loder was first with ten very matching ewes 
of great substance and style, in the next class, and Messrs. 
Thomas and German took the prizes of lOZ. and 51. for the best 
pen of ten breeding ewes, offered by the Derby Local Com- 
mittee. It will be noted that SOI. was subscribed by the Shrop- 
shire breeders, and consequently there were four prizes in the 
first three classes of Shropshires of 20Z., 15Z., lOZ. and 51. respec- 
tively, and 20Z. as a first prize in Class 113. The Report of 
the Judges, given here, will be read with much interest by all 
Shropshire breeders : — 
Beport of the Judges of Shropshires. 
We have great pleasure in being able to make a satisfactory report after 
our inspection of the several classes of Shropshires. 
